Headlight-beam modifier



L. GOLDiE.

HEADLIGHT REAM MODIFIER.

APPLiCATION FILED IULY19I I919.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

LOUIS GOLDIE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

HEADLIGHT-BEAM MODIFIER.

Specification of Letters iatent.

Patented Mar. 9, 19 20.

- Application filed July 19, 1919. Serial No. s1 2,o1o..

1 b all who/nit may concern: Be it known that I, LOUIS Gonna, a c1t1- of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of lVIaryland, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Headlight-Beam ,Modifiers, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a headlight beam modifier, and is especially applicable to the headlights of automobiles, locomotives, and

other instances where it is desirable to deflect or diffuse light beams.

The primary object of my invention is to improve as Well as to chea-pe'n the construction of devices of this general character, to which end one feature of the invention consists in constructing the device contemplated by the "invention, in its preferred form, of

a metal mask piece which is adapted to overlie the lens of the headlight, and to construct the mask piece with a plurality of cut and stamped overlapping shutter sections, the sections being so positioned as to deflect the beams radiating from the headlight in a downwardly direction and thus overcome the blinding effect presentedto an approaching vehicle. While the shutters are so constructed as to deflect the light beams in a. downwardly direction, I of course so arrange the angle of deflection that the light may be reflected a sufficient distance ahead of the vehicle to enable its driver to take advantage of the benefits .of the light. While these features constitute the primary objects obtained by my invention, certain other minor details, which are an improvement over known devices, are of importance, but these latter will be referred to in the following detailed description of the accompanyingdrawing.

, In said drawing a Figure 1 is a front elevation of a conventional form of headlight, illustrating the application ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section;

Fig.3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 5' and a Fig. t is a sectional view on the line l'4 of Fig. 2..

Before referring to the drawing by numerals of reference, I wish to mentionithe type of headlight front cover piece which I In some instances headli hts are provided with fiat lenses, and in OllGI'IIlStfl-HCQS the lenses are constructed of curved or oval shapes. .My

invention is applicable to any form of lens, either curved or flat. For this reason, the illustration shown should not be construed as limiting the use of the idea to flat lenses.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, A represents the front cover piece of aheadlight. As is usual in these coverpieces, the lens B is adapted to be confined by means of the annular integral ring D and the cushioning packing G. The-inner face of the ring provides -a substantially wide bearing surface for the outer edge of the lens, the packing 0 being used, as stated, to produce a cushioning effect. When the cover is applied to the headlight, the rim of the headlight will serve as another bearing surface for the edgeof the lens opposite the inner face of the ring D. The mask piece contemplated 'by my invention is constructed of a single piece of metal having an 'annular edge or flange 5, which is confined between the lens and the inner face of the ring D. The mask piece covers the entire face of the lens-and is constiucted with a plurality of overhanging shutter sections 6. To produce the desired results I prefer and consider it exceedingly important, that the shutter sections be constructed in wavelike formation. They may be cut and stamped from the mask piece, the w-avelike formation being produced by stamping them with upwardly extending ends terminating in an integral annular edge. It is to be noticed that, while all of the sections have these upwardly extending ends, some of. them, namely, those from the top to the center of the mask piece, areprovided with horizontal intermediate portions, while the intermediate portions of those sections near the bottom of the device are constructed curved. At the time of cutting and stamping the ections, or, indeed; even after this operation has been completed, the desired angle or overlapping relation of the shutters to one another may be accomplished. I desire to construct the shutters with an increased depth from the top to the bottom of the device, and in this manner produce each shut- In other words, the light from the'bottom to the top of the mask. This isdone becanee the beams radiating from the lower part of the arojector need not be deflected as much as ose radiating 5 from tlie'top, as they are not so much in the path of the vision of the operator of an 1 approaching vehicle. The peculiar formation of the shutter sections also leaves an unobstructed space between their overhang:-

ing portions, and it is to be noted that this sga ce increases in Width from the top to .t e bottom of the device. I can of course adjust the angle of the shutters to any dosired degree, by bending the web portions, but in most instances the desired angle or overhanging relation of one section to the other will be permanently fixed by tho cut ting .nd stamping operation.

Claims.

30 1. A headlight beam modilicr. comprisprojector, said mask embodying in its'structure a plurality of overhanging shutter sections, increasing in depth from the top to the bottom and. disposed in wave-like forma-- tion, all of the sections having inwardly and upwardly extending ends, some of the sections having horizontal intermediate portions and others of the sections having dowmvardly curved intermediate portions,

whereby the light beams radiating fromthe projector will be deflected downwaidly. with the angle ot'defiection increasing in a downward direction from the bottom to of the mask.

2. A head light beam modifier such as set forth in claim 1, in which the shutter sections with the downwardly curved interme diate portions are located in the bottom part of the device.

Lorne ooLniE.

h we 

